Luke Donald continues to play well at Harbour Town Golf Links, but he left the course again Sunday without donning the RBC Heritage winner’s tartan jacket.

Donald, the world’s sixth-ranked player, shot 2-under 69 in the final round to finish tied for third with Kevin Streelman.

It was the fourth time in five years Donald has finished third or better at Harbour Town. He tied for second in 2009, third in 2010 and lost a playoff to Brandt Snedeker in 2011.

Donald tied for 37th last year when he entered the tournament as the No. 1 player in the world, and he will have to return in 2014 if he wants to earn his first victory on Hilton Head.

Sunday’s finish was Donald’s best of the year. He tied for fourth last month at the Tampa Bay Championship for his only other top 10 of 2013.

“Golf is fickle and it’s tough and it’s demanding sometimes,” Donald said. “I certainly have put in the effort. … I’m this close to being in contention and having a chance. There’s a very fine line between contending and being out of that mix.”

Past playoffs

Sunday’s playoff was the third at the Heritage in the last four years and the 11th in its 45-year history.

Jim Furyk defeated Brian Davis to win his first Heritage in 2010. Davis famously called a two-stroke penalty on himself for moving a loose impediment in a hazard on his backswing.

In 2011, Snedeker shot 7-under 64 in the final round to erase a six-shot deficit and knocked off Donald.

Graeme McDowell managed a par to best Webb Simpson on the iconic 18th hole Sunday evening. McDowell could relate a bit to Snedeker in posting a low round and being forced to wait for the leader to finish up.

“When you’ve signed your scorecard… it’s pretty chaotic back there,” McDowell said. “There was a lot of people, a lot of fans.

“It was kind of chilly as well.”

Second for Simpson

Simpson, the defending U.S. Open champion, finished second for the fourth time in his career.

Three of those losses have been in playoffs: Against Ben Crane at the 2011 McGladrey Classic, against Bubba Watson in the 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Sunday’s finish against McDowell.

Simpson had a third playoff in 2011, when he defeated Chez Reavie at the 2011 Deutsche Bank Championship. He also finished second at the 2011 Tampa Bay Championship.

Hard act to follow

Four players who competed in the Heritage field finished in the top 10 at the Masters the previous week.

Marc Leishman, who shot 72 on Sunday and tied for ninth at 3 under, was the only one to do so at Harbour Town.

Jason Day, who finished third at Augusta National, tied for 30th at even par. Brant Snedeker struggled to a tie for 59th at 5 over after tying for sixth at the Masters. Matt Kuchar, who tied for eighth at the Masters, finished at 1 over Sunday to tie for 35th.

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